Re: what is a holly retainer?

March 25, 2004

Hawley retainer - that might make it easier to find on the net.

I've got some links on oss2 for that sort of thing, but I did a quick

search and here's a couple for you to check out:

http://www.braceplace.com/hawleyretainer.html

This one has tons of photos, scroll down until you see " Hawley " , then

click on the little box after the name to see a photo of it.

http://www.smoe.org/braces/infomenu.html

One of the sites I looked at says that the spring Hawley retainers

can move teeth pretty rapidly!

Hope that helps,

> Hi all,

>

> I went to my ortho today, he and my surgeon met and reviewed

> everything earlier in the week. I've had my surgery postponed 2

times

> because there is not enough room in my mouth for the surgeon to

work.

> So I have been having my lower teeth widened for 6 months (not fun)

> and now my bite won't line up afer surgery so I have to have some

> movements done on top. I'm having upper and lower, the top advanced

> 5mm and the lower 3. Any way, He took my braces off today (upper)

and

> fitted me for a holly retainer (SP?). Does any one know what that

is?

> Is this different fromt the post ortho retainer if so how? I've

tried

> looking for it on some of the ortho websites but no luck.

>

> Anyway they have promised that I will definetly have surgery in May

> so I guess it is not that bad!

>

> Marsha

March 25, 2004

My guess, and it's only that, because I'm no professional in the

stuff, is that what you need to be looking for is a " Hawley

retainer, " rather than a " Holly retainer. "

It's essentially a plastic plate that fits inside the teeth, with a

system of wires that go under and around the outside. I had one sort

of in the mode when I was a child.

That's what they used, here anyhow, way before other things like the

acryllic ones and positioners came in. Some docs prefer them -- and I

don't know their advantages and disadvantages these days. I have the

acryllic ones (they're sort of like Invisalign braces) and am pleased

with them. I had no trouble with the sort-of Hawley, either. I want

my ortho to use whatever tool and technique he thinks will serve me

best.

Cammie